The much-awaited mobile incinerator, a project mooted by the Suchitwa Mission for temporary waste management, arrived here on Wednesday morning. It will start functioning on a trial mode from Thursday, an official of the Mission told The Hindu in Thiruvananthapuram on the day.
“Incineration is a very common process for managing waste, but to turn it mobile and move it as per the immediate needs of a particular location has not been practised here before,” said Murali Krishnan of Green Transit Renewable Energies, which will manage the functioning of the unit.
Intended to target market areas where garbage had accumulated, the diesel-powered machine will first be subjected to a technical evaluation by a team of the Mission.
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The team would assess whether the design parameters had been met, with particular focus on emission norms. A more defined schedule would be formulated thereafter, officials said. The machine was purchased by the Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO) at a cost of Rs.2.19 crore. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy formally launched the incinerator at Pappanamcode. Minister for Urban Affairs Manjalamkuzhi Ali and Minister for Social Welfare M.K. Muneer were present.
“For garbage disposal, we are looking at many solutions and we are yet to find a successful model. Newer technologies that are available need to be utilised to manage the situation here,” Mr. Chandy said adding that the incinerator would function in two eight-hour shifts.
Depending on equipment’s performance, the functioning time may be increased, he said.
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The Chief Minister also spoke of setting up a ‘waste management company,’ modelled on the Cochin International Airport Limited.